Electronic dropout suppressor having autoamtic phase control



Jan. 30, 1968 B. A.YHO| MBERG 3,356,732

' ELECTRONIC DROPOUT SUPPRESSOR HAVING AUTOMATIC PHASE CONTROL Filed March 2, 1966 21,45 /A/l/A/raA/f United States Patent O 3,366,732 ELECTRONIC DROPOUT SUPPRESSOR HAVING AUTOMATIC PHASE CONTROL Y Berten A. Holniherg, Hutchinson, Minn., assignor to Mnnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 204,568, .une 22, 1962. This application Mar. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 531,230

10 Claims. (Cl. 1786.6)

This invention is a continuation-impart of application, Ser. No. 204,568, tiled June 22, 1962, in the name of Berten A. Holmberg, entitled, Electronic Dropout Suppressor. This invention is primarily concerned with the suppression of dropouts in the transmission and reproduction of magnetically recorded television signals. T he invention is also applicable to other information transmission or storage systems where defects in the information can be detected by electronic means, although its main utility resides in systems where the information is substantially repetitive in nature.

A major problem in the recording of television signals on magnetic recording tape stems from signal dropouts in playback due to malfunctions of the recording or playback apparatus, or due to debris accumulated by the tape in use, or flaws in the tape such as craters or scratches or foreign particles in the magnetizable coating, or clumps of magnetic oxide, or backing protrusions. Because the streaks in the picture caused by signal dropouts are disturbing to the viewer, a great deal of effort has been expended in the industry to minimize dropouts to provide a more perfect television picture. Except for multifold improvement in the tape, little advance has been made, with the result that the picture quality still does not meet the desired requirements of video tape users.

This invention provides an economical device for suppressing dropouts in television recording to produce an almost visually perfect picture. With the addition of very modest circuitry, the invention can be applied to video tape recorders now in widespread commercial use. In a conventional video recorder which uses frequency modulation, this may be accomplished by sensing defects or dropouts in the television radio frequency signal played back from the tape, dividing this signal into two identical components; delaying one component with respect to the other by an interval equal to one scan period; normally transmitting only one of said components; and transmitting the other of the two components in place of the defective normally-transmitted component in the event that a defect or dropout is sensed. Because a television signal in a given scan period is essentially equivalent to the signal y in time-adjacent scan periods, the viewer is generally unaware of the substitution. Somewhat less effectively, the substitution could be made from a scan period 2 or 3 lines timewise ahead or behind the signal dropout or from a physically adjacent scan one eld away or even from the corresponding scan period one frame away. In the present state of the art, it is most economical to substitute the time-adjacent scan period, so that in a monochrome television system, one component of the signal is delayed 63.5 microseconds with respect to the other.

The present invention is equally applicable to color television but for simplicity is described herein in conjunction with monochrome television.

Since devices for delaying a television signal one scan period of 63.5 microseconds may distort the signal slightly, it is preferred that the relatively undelayed component be normally transmitted. In this case, the normallytransmitted signal should be delayed momentarily to compensate for the time delay inherent in sensing a dropout. Upon sensing a dropout, the transmission is immediately ICC switched to the signal component which has been delayed 63.5 microseconds with respect to the other, and this component is transmitted for the duration of the dropout, at which time the relatively undelayed component is again transmitted. Since a dropout rarely exceeds 63.5 microseconds in duration and since there is no diiiculty in keeping the number of dropouts statistically small with respect to number of scan periods, the substituted information constitutes a very minor proportion and does not detract from the overall quality of the video picture. By keeping the switching operation from one signal component to the other very short, the switching dots do not ordinarily disturb the viewer. Since the degree of visibility of the switching dots is in part dependent upon phase differences between the two signal components, the degree of this visual disturbance can be minimized by automatic phase control.

The instant invention will be readily understood from the following description of certain preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of circuitry in accordance with one form of the invention adapted for installation in a video tape recorder;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of circuitry illustrating certain modifications which may be made in a device such as that illustrated in FlGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of circuitry embodying another form of the invention.

Referring to FIGURE l of the drawing, the frequency modulated radio frequency signal from the head switcher of a conventional video tape recorder is fed into a dropout sensor or level detector 10 which utilizes solid state components and is designed to generate a pulse when the amplitude of the radio frequency signal drops below a determined level (that is, when a dropout occurs). The radio frequency signal is first applied to a Voltage amplitier 11 and then to a series diode clipper 12 which passes only the positive signal components to an amplifier 13 whose gain is controlled by a potentiometer 14. The amplitied signal components are applied to a detector 15 comprised of a tunnel diode in a bi-stable circuit which produces an output pulse train of constant amplitude at the frequency of the applied signal components when driven above a fixed level, but which has no output when driven below that xed level (that is, during a dropout). The pulse train is fed to a voltage ampliiier 16, a ramp driver 17 and a pulse generator 18 which integrates the pulse train but is driven into saturation when there is a break in the pulse train, producing a positive output pulse which is wider than the original dropout because of the time required -for the pulse generator transistor to recover from saturation. A Schmitt trigger 19 squares the widened pulse to operate an electronic switch 20.

The dropout sensor 10 may be adjusted by the operator by setting the potentiometer 14 to feed a square pulse to the electronic switch 20 when the radio frequency signal amplitude drops below a certain level. In other words, the operator adjusts the potentiometer 14 to produce switching pulses upon the occurrence of dropouts which he inds to be visually disturbing.

The radio frequency signal from the head switcher is also fed into a variable delay 21 which is adjustable for time delays up to at least the maximum delay inherent in the dropout sensor 10, for example, in the order of one microsecond. The output from the variable delay 21 feeds two circuits 22 and 23, the first of which is a simple connection 24 to the electronic switch 20. The second circuit 23 includes an ultrasonic delay line system 25 of quartz with transducers and amplifiers to provide a fixed delay of about 62.5 microseconds. A useful `quartz delay line which passes the normal radio frequency components in a video tape recorder is available from Anderson Laboratories, West Hartford, Conn. The circuit 17 also includes a Vernier delay 25 to adjust the total delay in the second circuit 2.3 to equal the duration of one scan period, that is, 63.5 microseconds.

The switch 20 may be an essentially conventional device of a type normally used for television broadcast effects switching and for keyed insertion of program material, with emphasis on short switching time and elimination or" incidental or generated switching transients, but it need have essentially flat response only for a bandwidth of about l to S megacycles. Normally the switch 20 transmits to the limiter demodulator circuitry of the video tape recorder the radio frequency signal carried by the first circuit 22. Then upon occurrence of a dropout, the switching pulse output of the Schmitt trigger 19 causes the switch 2t) to transmit the delayed radio frequency signal carried by the second circuit 23 in place of the first circuit signal for the duration of the switching pulse, after which the switch Ztl returns to normal. By proper adjustment of the potentiometer 14, the video information carried by the delayed radio frequency signal is substituted in the video picture for ever,7 visually disturbing dropout. With the variable delay 21 adjusted to over- Compensate for delay inherent in the dropout sensor 1), the signal carried by the first circuit 22 is again at a proper level when the switch 2t) returns to normal since the dropout sensor also inherently widens the switching pulse.

If a dropout exceeds 63.5 microseconds in duration or two dropouts occur at an interval of 63.5 microseconds, some disturbance will appear in the video picture. In the present state of the video recording art, such occurrences are statistically rare.

Since the delayed signal is essentially equivalent to and only occasionally substituted for the normally-transmitted signal for a fraction of a scan period, viewers of the transmitted video picture are generally unaware of any substitution. On the other hand, displayed dropouts are visually disturbing, and the present invention provides a simple, economical way of eliminating this disturbance.

An alternative device for suppressing defects in video scan periods is illustrated in FIGURE 2. Here the radio frequency signal from the head switcher is applied to a dropout sensor 30, the output of which controls an electronic switch 31. These devices may be identical to their counterparts in FIGURE 1. The radio frequency signal from the head switcher also is fed into a tapped delay line 32 which provides a total delay of about one microsecond. The main output 33 of the tapped delay 32 is connected directly to the switch 31, while the tapped output 34 feeds an ultrasonic delay system 35 which includes a quartz delay line providing a delay of 63.5 microseconds. The tapped output 34 is adjusted to compensate for delay inherent in circuitry associated with the quartz delay line to delay the signal from the tapped output 34 one scan period with respect to the signal from the main output 33. However, these two signals tend to vary in phase due to minute variations in head-to-tape speed, frequency instability, etc., and if both were applied directly to the electronic switch 31, switching dots in the video picture might be visible, the degree of visibility being in part dependent upon the difference in phase. To minimize such visual disturbance, the output of the ultrasonic delay system 35 is fed to an automatic phase corrector 36 which is controlled by a phase comparator 37 at which the phases of the delayed and the relatively undelayed radio frequency signals are compared. The automatic phase corrector 36 then delays the signal output from the ultrasonic delay system 35 sufficiently to keep this signal in phase with the relatively undelayed signal.

It will be seen that the device illustrated in FIGURE 2 comprises a first circuit 38 (consisting of the portion of the tapped delay line 32 beyond the tapped output 34) for carrying a radio frequency television signal; a second circuit 39 (consisting of the ultrasonic delay system 35 and the automatic phase corrector 36) for carrying the radio frequency signal which is delayed one scan period with respect to the first-circuit signal; a dropout sensor 30 for sensing a drop in amplitude of the radio frequency signal below a determined level; and an electronic switch 31 which normally transmits only the first-circuit signal and is controlled by the dropout sensor 30 for transmitting portions of the second-circuit signal in place of defective portions of the first-circuit signal. As in the device illustrated in FIGURE l, only those portions of the secondcircuit signal which correspond in time position to defective portions of the first-circuit signal are transmitted.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 which illustrates circuitry for substituting whole scan periods whenever a defect is sensed. The radio frequency signal from the head switcher is fed into a dropout sensor 4t?, which may be identical to the dropout sensor 10 of FIGURE 1, but since the switching operation does not occur until the end of the scan period, speed in the detection of dropouts is not important. The dropout sensor 40 includes a two-stage amplified diode limiter 41 which eliminates small variations in signal amplitude due to multiple head factors; a peak-to-peak amplitude modulation detector 42 which converts a radio frequency signal dropout not absorbed by this limiter 41 into a positive pulse, the amplitude of which is a function of the degree of signal failure; a Schmitt trigger 43 which squares the positive pulse; and a potentiometer 44 for controlling the triggering level. The radio frequency signal input from the head switcher also feeds two circuits 45 and 46, the rst of which includes an ultrasonic delay line system 47 to provide a xed delay of about 64.5 microseconds. The second circuit 46 includes a Vernier delay 43 to adjust the relative delay in the signal carried by the first circuit 45 with respect to that carried by the second circuit 46 to` equal the duration of one scan period, that is, 63.5 microseconds in monochrome television.

The radio frequency signal scarried by circuits 45 and 46 are applied to an electronic switch 49, which normally transmits to the limiter demodulator circuitry of the video tape recorder the relatively delayed signal carried by the first circuit 45. Then upon occurrence of a dropout, the output of the dropout sensor enables the switch 49 to switch at the occurrence of the next horizontal sync pulse under the control of a line gate 50 to transmit to the limiter demodulator circuitry the signal carried by the second circuit 46 in place of the defective signal in the rst circuit 45 for a full scan period.

Since the switching operation in the device illustrated in FIGURE 3 takes place only while the picture is iblanked between scan lines, the design of the switch 49 is less critical than that of switch 20. However, since the normally-transmitted signal is delayed for a full scan period, the performance of the ultrasonic delay system 47 must be exceptionally good if the quality of the transmitted video picture is to be as good as that transmitted by the device of FIGURE l. Moreover, since dropouts often occur at the end of one scan period and extend into the time-adjacent scan period but seldom continue for as long as 63.5 microseconds, the device of FIGURE l has been found to provide superior dropout suppression, without regard to whether the ultrasonic delay system introduces noticeable distortion.

It is of critical importance in the suppression of signal defects in the practice of this invention that the substitution for the defective signal be made at radio frequency. In the reproduction of magnetically recorded television signals, this requires that the substitution be made before demodulation. Because the signal is still in frequency modulated form it is essentially not altered in character upon passing through an ultrasonic delay system. On the other hand, if the signal were first demodulated, the

electronic switch would require an extremely sophisticated design, with added circuitry such as driven clamps in order to maintain accurate DC balance. Otherwise, rapid amplitude changes such as are caused by a splice in video tape may cause low frequency bounce which would prevent effective match of grey scale of the delayed and relatively undelayed signal components. Because dropouts tend to be relatively concentrated in the vicinity of a splice, the visual result could be quite disturbing.

Since an electronic switch for a frequency modulated radio frequency signal need not pass signals of low frequencies, it may be of less sophisticated and hence of less expensive design than that needed for demodulated signals. On the other hand, the switching of the radio frequency signal is more sensitive to phase differences, although this is rather easily controlled as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

For use with video tape recorders now on the market, switching in the radio frequency mode has the special advantage that the delay lines may be fixed and yet the novel dropout suppressor can be interchanged on all video recorders. Such would not be the case if the signal substitution Were not made until after demodulation since different models of video recorders have different demodulator delay times.

In preparing copies of video tape recordings, it is fairly common to transmit the radio frequency signal reproduced from the master tape directly to the recorder being used to make the copy, without demodulating the signal except to monitor the operation. Limiting of the signal during this procedure w-ould effectively prevent subsequent detection of dropouts in the signal from the master tape so that the video recorder used for the master tape should be equipped with the instant novel electronic dropout suppressor. In this case it is virtually essential that the dropout suppressor operate on the radio frequency signal.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the ultrasonic delay line system may be replaced by other delay means. For example, each reproducing head of the video tape recorder can be replaced by a dual head, the gaps of which are so spaced that the signal reproduced at one gap follows that reproduced at the other gap by about the time interval of one scan period. For video tape recorders now on the market, the gaps should lie about 0.099 inch (2.5 mm.) apart for 63.5 microsecond delay.

Although this invention is primarily intended for use in video recorders wherein a frequency modulated radio frequency signal is involved, it is applicable to other systems which also have a continuous carrier signal. For example, the present invention may be used in television receivers in the home to suppress such picture interference as falls outside of normal carrier amplitude variations, that is, whiter than white or blacker than black. In such use, signals falling outside the normal standardized carrier amplitude variation would be treated as dropouts and would be replaced by signals of a time-adjacent scan period.

What is claimed is: 1. In combination for suppressing defects in a signal representing visual information:

first means for receiving the signal representing the visual information;

second means responsive to the signal representing the visual information for detecting defects in such signal;

third means responsive to the signal representing the visual information for delaying such signal;

fourth means responsive to the received signal and the delayed signal for comparing the phases of such signals to produce an error signal having characteristics representing any difference in such phases;

fifth means responsive to the error signal for adjusting 6 the delay provided in the received signal by the third means; and

sixth means responsive to the detection of defects by the second means for passing the delayed signal produced by the third means.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the fifth means is an automatic phase corrector and the fourth means is a phase comparator.

3. In Combination for suppressing defects in a signal representing visual information:

`first means for receiving the signal representing the visual information;

second means operatively coupled to the first means for detecting defects in such signals;

third means operatively coupled to the first means for delaying the received signal by a Variable period of time;

fourth means operatively coupled to the first and third means for comparing the phases of the signals from the first and third means to produce an error signal representing the results of such comparison;

fifth means operatively coupled to the third and fourth means for varying the delay provided by the third means in accordance with the characteristics of the error signal; and

sixth means operatively coupled to the first, second and third means for passing the received signal upon a lack of detection by the second means of defects in the signals from the third means and for passing the delayed signal upon a detection by the second means of defects in the signals from the third means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the fourth means is a phase comparator and the first means is an automatic phase corrector.

5. In combination for suppressing defects in a signal representing visual information:

first means for receiving the signal representing visual information;

second means operatively coupled to the first means for detecting defects in the signal;

third means operatively coupled to the first means for delaying the received signal by a particular period of time;

fourth means operatively coupled to the third means for comparing the signals from the first and third means to provide a delay in the signal from the third means in accordance with such comparison; and

fifth means operatively coupled to the first, second and third means for normally passing the signal from the first means and for passing the signal from the third means upon the detection of a defect by the second means.

6. The -combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the fourth means includes a phase -comparator and an automatic phase corrector.

7. In combination for suppressing defects in a signal representing visual information:

first means for receiving the signal representing the visual information; second means responsive to t-he first means for providing a variable delay in the received signal;

third means responsive to the received signal for producing a control signal representing defects in the signal representing the visual information;

fourth means operatively coupled to the first and second means for varying the phase of the delayed signal Ifrom the second means to produce a particular relationship between the phases of the received and delayed signals; and

fifth means operatively coupled to the second and third means for passing the delayed signal upon the production of the control signal by the third means.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein the fourth means includes a phase comparator and an automatic phase corrector.

9. In combination for suppressing defects in a signal representing visual information:

rst means for receiving the signal representing the visual information;

second means responsive to the received signal for detecting defects in such signal;

third means responsive to the received signal for providing a controlled delay in such signal;

fourth means responsive to the received signal and the delayed signal Afor comparing the characteristics of such signals to provide an error signal having characteristics representing differences in the characteristics of the compared signals;

fth means responsive to the error signal for varying the delay provided by the fourth means in the received signal; and

sixth means operatively coupled to the second means fourth means is a phase comparator and the fth means is an automatic phase Corrector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1961 Dolby 1786-6 6/1967 Moskovitz 178-6.6

15 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

H. W. BRlTTON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION FOR SUPRESSING DEFECTS IN A SIGNAL REPRESENTING VISUAL INFORMATION: FIRST MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE SIGNAL REPRESENTING THE VISUAL INFORMATION; SECOND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SIGNAL REPRESENTING THE VISUAL INFORMATION FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN SUCH SIGNAL; THIRD MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SIGNAL REPRESENTING THE VISUAL INFORMATION FOR DELAYING SUCH SIGNAL; FOURTH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE RECEIVED SIGNAL AND THE DELAYED SIGNAL FOR COMPARING THE PHASES OF SUCH SIGNALS TO PRODUCE AN ERROR SIGNAL HAVING CHARACTERISTICS REPRESENTING ANY DIFFERENCE IN SUCH PHASES; FIFTH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ERROR SIGNAL FOR ADJUSTING THE DELAY PROVIDED IN THE RECEIVED SIGNAL BY THE THIRD MEANS; AND SIXTH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE DETECTION OF DEFECTS BY THE SECOND MEANS FOR PASSING THE DELAYED SIGNAL PRODUCED BY THE THIRD MEANS. 